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While the United States is cutting its own emissions, some nations, especially China, are belching out more and more dirty air. As a result, overseas pollution could partly cancel out improvements in U.S. air quality that have cost billions of dollars.

So, is pollution that originates in other countries a problem that the U.S. would deal with?

While the United States is cutting its own emissions, some nations, especially China, are belching out more and more dirty air.

I hope you're not suggesting Kyoto is the answer to this problem, since Kyoto is law in China.

So, is pollution that originates in other countries a problem that the U.S. would deal with?

Through mutual agreements, perhaps, where they get something, we get something in return, and so on.

It seems to me that in order to address pollution crossing the border from at least our two neighbors... will require some kind of international agreement.

I see I was not clear on this point. I am not against international agreements, if that is what the people of a particular nation want. I am against a one-size-fits-all international framework that every nation is expected to sign on to, and if they don't, it means they are therefore in the wrong.

Your quote is exhibit A for why Kyoto is wrongheaded. China is getting worse while the U.S. is improving, yet the U.S. is not a part of Kyoto, while China is.

Well, there's two primary parts, meant to address two different problems.

The first, which most people say won't fix SS, is the personal accounts. What is true is that it won't fix SS *solvency* problems, which is a straw man, as it is not meant to (well, in truth, it could help prevent future solvency problems, as it will reduce the long-term liabilities at the same time it is reducing the revenues, making it easier to manage, but that's not really the point of it). It's meant to help fix the problem of

The lack of plan to pay for the transition costs is one of my big reasons for, right now, disliking personal accounts. The other is that I am not convinced I will have substantial control over the money in those personal accounts. What is "ownership" without control?